Residents of Osizweni and parts of Aviary Hill have had to endure a lack of water supply for weeks, sometimes even months on end.
A resident in Osizweni relayed how this had hindered hers and her families’ livelihood.
“It has been more than three weeks that our taps are dry,” she said.
The resident went on to explain how from the time she arrived at her home from work and prepared to cook a meal and bathe her son, the water supply was lacking or non-existent.
“At around 4am every morning, we would hear the water filling into the system. When we wake up it is shut off again,” she explained.
This has been an ongoing problem for sometime now said the frustrated resident.
In Aviary Hill, there have been numerous reports over the past few months, some on a daily basis, regarding burst water pipes, failing water infrastructure, delays in workmanship and the installation of new pressure release valves (PRVs).
Throughout the debacle, Ward Councillor, Bebsie Cronje has been engaging with residents of Aviary Hill via a WhatsApp group regarding the progress of some of the burst pipes, as well as continuously inquiring which streets in Aviary Hill did not have water supply.
On the morning of September 30, a burst pipe at Stork Street was reported by a resident. By that afternoon, another pipe had burst at Kokkewiet Street.
The next day, two more burst pipes were reported in Nagtegaal Street and Peacock Crescent.
“It’s too much. We only have water for one day then the next day waterless,” said a resident on the group.
As the days progressed, more reports came in of further burst pipes in Vink, Mossie, Hornbill and Windswaeltjie Streets. Municipal workers however, were seen using a TLB (digger machine) to attend to the water leaks.
Head of Communications at the Newcastle Municipality, Dumisani Thabethe was contacted for a comment via a formal media inquiry.
The following questions were asked:
1. What is the municipality’s technical team’s turnaround time for repairing leaks/burst water pipes?
2. Is there a technical reason for the increase in the number of burst pipes in these areas specifically?
3. Can the municipality comment on the cracks that have been reported on the Signal Hill reservoir, as pointed out by Councillor Bebsie Cronje at a recent oversight visit?
4. How many water tankers are available to residents in instances where there is no supply of water?
5. What are the costs incurred when repairing burst/broken pipes?
At the time of going to print, none of these questions had been responded to.
Have you been affected by the lack of water supply in your area? Send through your story to newed@caxton.co.za
ALSO READ: Watery mess leaves Aviary Hill residents’ taps dry
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